The Canton girl’s modified team lost 3-0 in a competitive and entertaining match to Chateaugay Central School on Monday night in Canton.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set before Canton rallied to close within one point at 5-4 following aces from Josie Gabriel and Laurel Whittier. Chateaugay then went on a 4-0 run to lead 9-4. After the Bears got a point back, Kyleigh Gollinger served three straight points to close the gap to 9-8. The Bulldogs answered again with six straight points to lead 15-8. A diving dig from Gollinger stopped the run, and the Bears countered with three consecutive points to pull within 15-12. Gollinger made several terrific defensive plays throughout the match. Canton then went on a 7-3 run to take their first lead of the match 19-18. The score remained close until the Bulldogs got to set point at 24-20. The Bears continued to battle and deadlocked the game at 24 apiece following two good serves from Gollinger and a nice kill at the net from Zoey Mattice. Chateaugay then scored two straight points to win the set 26-24.
In the second set, the Bulldogs scored the first two points, and then after Canton got the point back, Katie Metcalf served twice putting the Bears on top 3-2. Chateaugay then opened a 13-8 lead with two points in a row before that short run was stopped by a tip from Josie Gabriel off a great set from Laurel Whittier to make it 13-9. The Bulldogs came right back with a 3-0 run to lead 16-9. Canton kept fighting and got back within three points, 19-16, after another kill from Gabriel, a nice point from Emma Logan, and an ace from Autumn Bronson. The Bulldogs answered once again, this time reeling off a 4-0 run to lead 23-16. Canton came with back with three straight, including a great point from Whittier who dropped the ball into an open space to trim the lead to 23-19. Chateaugay went on to win 25-19.
The third and final set was another back and forth battle right to the end. Vanessa Mousaw helped Canton wipe out a 5-2 deficit serving six straight times with three aces to give the Bears a 9-5 lead. Canton led 14-11 a short time later, but then the Bulldogs got hot serving and grabbed a 22-17 lead. Lilly Borrelli gave Canton one final push as she delivered three straight aces to pull Canton within 23-22. But Chateaugay closed out the match winning 25-22.
The Bears, who had won seven straight before Monday, will look to get back to their winning ways on Wednesday when they play at Ogdensburg at 4 p.m.
